TRUTH: More than 40 trials have demonstrated that lowering cholesterol does not prevent heart attacks. On the contrary, several major studies have shown a higher risk of death with lower levels of cholesterol.

TRUTH: Several large, well-controlled trials have shown an inverse relationship between cholesterol

levels and mortality. A recent study at Yale University showed that elderly people die twice as often from heart attacks as those with high cholesterol.

5. MYTH: Statins drugs that lower cholesterol (Lipitor, Zocor, etc.) reduce the risk of dying from heart disease, and are safe with few side effects.

TRUTH: Not one study has ever shown that statins reduce mortality in healthy men and women with only elevated cholesterol and no history of heart disease. Nor are statins effective in the elderly. Statins do reduce the risk of death inyoung and middle-aged males with preexisting heart disease, but the benefit is small, independent of cholesterol lowering, and comes with many side effects, complications and costs.

Protection from fee radicals: recent research shows that cholesterol acts as an antioxidant.

Digestion & absorption: the bile salts are made from cholesterol. Bile is vital for digestion and assimilation of fats; it is also essential for absorbing fat-soluble vitamins A, D, K & E (which we cannot live without).

Growth & development: is especially rich in cholesterol; babies & children need cholesterol to ensure proper development of the brain and nervous system

Brain & nervous system: 25% of body cholesterol is in the brain, and myelin (coating of every nerve cell & fiber in the body) is 20% cholesterol; synapse formation is almost entirely dependent on cholesterol.

Intestinal wall: dietary cholesterol helps maintain the integrity of the intestinal wall; low-cholesterol vegetarian diets can lead to leaky gut syndrome and other intestinal disorders.

Mood: cholesterol is needed for proper function of serotonin receptors in the brain; low cholesterol levels have been linked to aggressive and violent behavior, depression and suicidal tendencies.

Tissue repair: cholesterol is a repair substance in the body, used to repair wounds, including tears and irritations in the arteries.

The Dangers of Statin Drugs

Modern cholesterol lowering drugs act by inhibiting an enzyme (HMG -CoA reductase) needed for the formation of cholesterol in the liver. These HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, called statins, are sold as Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravacol, Zocor, etc.

Weakness & muscle wasting: this is the most common side effect of statin drugs, occurring in as many as one in three users. Muscle aches and pains, back pain, heel pain, weakness and slurring of speech result from statin interference with the production of Coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10), needed for the muscles to function. These side effects are more common in active people and may not show until three years after commencement of treatment.

Heart failure: rates of heart failure have doubled since the arrival of statin drugs. Te heart is a muscle that depends on a plentiful supply of CO-Q10. Rhabdomyolosis: rapid breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue which may lead to kidney failure and death.

Cognitive impairment: many patients have reported memory loss and brain fog, including total global amnesia (episodes of complete memory loss). The implications for pilots and those driving cars and trucks are profound.

Cancer: in every study with rodents to date, statins have caused cancer. Most human trials are not carried out for long enough to detect any increase in cancer rates, but in one trial, breast cancer rates of those taking a statin were 1500% higher than those of controls.

Depression: numerous studies have linked low cholesterol with depression. Birth defects: almost 50% of pregnant women who took a statin drug in early pregnancy gave birth to a child with malformations.

Researchers around the world have suggested that atherosclerosis is actually disorder of inflammation and oxidative stress. Risk factors for heart disease are those that contribute to inflammation and oxidative damage:

Free radicals and inflammation of any kind inhibit synthesis of nitric oxide, a vital substance that protects against heart disease at every level. Oxidized LDL is indeed harmful, but it is the polyunsaturated fat - not the cholesterol - inside of the particle that oxidizes.

Chronic infections, inflammation and stress raise cholesterol levels and significantly increase the risk of heart attacks. Thus, it is no surprise that elevated cholesterol levels are seen in people with heart disease. The mistake is assuming that it is cholesterol - and not the underlying condition - that causes atherosclerosis.

This “oxidative response to inflammation” hypothesis is well-supported by the scientific data and fits

everything currently known about heart disease. It is also widely accepted within the research community. Unfortunately, the message that cholesterol is not the culprit has not yet reached most physicians, dietitians and the general public.

Massive conflicts of interest within the medical and scientific community stand in the way of this message being heard. 8 of 9 physicians responsible for writing the cholesterol guidelines receive money from drug companies, and 2/3 of all medical research is funded by the pharmaceutical industry. Te result is the perpetuation of the flawed hypothesis that cholesterol and saturated fat cause heart disease.

To find out how to obtain an accurate and complete assessment of your cholesterol and other health related risk factors, click on this link.

Please call 734-726-0153 to schedule a free consultation and evaluation. At Digestive Health Ann Arbor we are known for providing professional and compassionate care. We strive to guide people towards a comprehensive and holistic healing strategy. Restoring your body to health will restore the quality of your life.

Digestive Health Ann Arbor

We offer a comprehensive holistic approach to helping people facilitate the natural and instinctive healing process of the human body. Using state of the art testing we can diagnose those conditions that arise from a compromised digestive system and begin your journey of healing today.